Abstract
Purpose :
Prior studies have found that many pediatric primary care residency program directors are dissatisfied with their programs’ eye care curriculum, and many practicing primary care physicians desire additional eye health training. This study assessed primary care resident perspectives on ophthalmic education to inform curriculums and improve pediatric eye care.
Methods :
A sixteen question survey was sent electronically to 137 pediatric, family medicine, and internal medicine-pediatric residents at a single academic institution in October 2022. The voluntary survey included multiple choice and free response questions assessing resident satisfaction with their eye care curriculum, confidence in providing primary eye care, and basic ophthalmic knowledge.
Results :
Thirty-nine residents completed the survey (28% response rate). Thirty-five percent were from family medicine, 35% pediatrics, and 29% internal medicine-pediatrics. Participants were from all postgraduate years (PGY): 24% PGY-1, 24% PGY-2, 37% PGY-3, and 13% PGY-4. Only 38% of all residents and 56% of PGY-3s and PGY-4s were confident interpreting a child's visual acuity tested using a wall chart. No residents were confident using instrument-based vision screening devices; only 3% were confident interpreting the results of such devices. Seventy-one percent were confident performing an eye exam (red reflex test, external inspection, pupil examination, corneal light reflex, and cover test). Thirty-two percent managed viral conjunctivitis inappropriately; 25% failed to urgently refer an infant with asymmetric red reflexes to ophthalmology. Residents felt that the most valuable parts of their eye care curriculum were participating in primary care (57%) and ophthalmology (30%) clinics. Overall, 65% of residents were dissatisfied with their eye health curriculum. Written comments included “very little didactic information about vision screening in residency” and “preceptors couldn’t answer my questions.”
Conclusions :
Primary care residents at an academic institution report dissatisfaction with their eye care curriculum. Many have critical knowledge gaps. Inadequate eye care training may delay the detection and treatment of vision-threatening disorders, potentially leading to permanent vision loss. National surveys are needed to understand whether these findings are similar across the country and inform quality improvement initiatives.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.